Valve shield



Jan. 2, 1934. R HUME k 1,941,596

VALVE SHIELD Filed Jan. 13, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet. l

T. R. BURKE Jan. 2, 1934.

VALVE SHIELD Filed Jan. 13. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -Paten ted Jan. 2 1934 PATENT OFFICE UNITED STATES This invention has reference to flushing valves and more particularly to valves of the direct flush type which are connected directly with the water supply and the fixture to be flushed. These flush 5 Valves, as now generally made and installed, present outer metallic surfaces of various contours which tarnish and corrode so that they become unsightly and are not easily kept clean and sanitary. The present invention provides a shield or housing or casing which will completely surround the mechanical working unit of the valve in such a manner as to reduce the number of projections which are now usually present and which render cleaning of the valve or fitting exceedingly difficult. The shield of my invention dispenses with the usual outlet of the flushing valve and provides a casing member or section which performs the functions of the outlet so that the number of parts is reduced and the cost of production and installation will be minimized. The invention provides a shield or casing which may be enameled or plated so as to be given any desired color finish and harmonize completely with the fixture to which it is applied and the surroundings of its installation. The invention also provides a casing or shield of such form or design that it may be produced in any'desired metal or other material, the exterior finish of which will be permanent and easily cleaned. A further object of the invention is to provide a shield or casing having the stated characteristics which may be very easily applied to the valve and will be firmly supported by the valve. Other objects of the invention will appear incidentally in the course of the following description, and the invention resides in certain novel features which will be particularlypointed out inthe appended claims.

In the annexed drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flush valve 40 and fixture having my improved shield applied thereto, I

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the shield, the valve being shown in elevation partly broken away,

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, on the line 33 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing parts of the shield separated but in their proper relative positions. e

The reference numeral 1 denotes. a fixture which is to be flushed and the numeral 2 indicates the flush valve. The flush valve may be of any known or approved type and is illustrated with a. lateral inlet nipple 3 which is adapted to be coupled to a lateral nipple or pipe member 4 V which extends from the casing 5 of the controlling valve 6 which may be of any well-known type and is to be adjusted so as to regulate the volume of the inflow or to out 0115 the flow entirely when repairs are to be made. The valve casing 5 is 60 connected to the supply pipe '7 which, in the illus trated installation, is brought through the wall of the room in which the apparatus is installed. A flange or collar 8 is disposed around the basal end of the valve casing 5 and abuts the wall, as shown, so that a neat finish may be attained.

Thestem 9 of the controlling valve is threaded at its outer extremity to engage in a socket 10 which is swiveled in and extends through the outer end of the valve casing 5 and about which is fitted a gland or packing box 11, all of these parts being of any preferred form. The outer extremity of the swiveled socket 10 is non-circular in cross section so as to be engaged by the boss 12 on the inner side of a cap 13 which is fitted to the valve casing. The cap 13 is semi-spherical throughout the greater portion of its extent while its margin is cylindrical and of a proper diameter to abut the outer end of the valve casing and lie flush therewith so that a smooth surface is provided over the entire exterior of the valve casing and the cap which will lend itself readily to any desired finish. -A screw 14 is inserted through the cap into the extremity of the socket 10 so that the cap will be held in position and will constitute a handle for-the controlling valve or stop. When the cap or handle is turned, it will impart rotation to the socket and thereby effect longitudinal movement of the stem 9 and the valve 6 to set the valve for any desired opening which may be deemed most desirable. The entire outer surface of the valve casing 5 and its branch pipe-member 4, the collar 8 and the cap 13 are given the same finish, which maybe an enamel color which will best harmonize with the fittings to which it is applied and the surroundings of the installation.

The pipe member 4 is coupled to the inlet nipple 3 of the -fiush valve 2 in any approved manner, a coupling collar 14' being illustrated in Fig. 2. The coupling collar is slipped onto the pipe mem- 100 ber4,and a flange 40 is then screwed into the end of the pipe member to provide a shoulder against which the collar abuts, as shown, when drawing the pipe member into close union with the nipple 3. The union of the pipe member and nipple 5 is effected by screwing the collar onto the nipple, as will be understood upon reference to Fig. 2, the flush valve being thereby firmly secured in position. The shield of the present invention includes a lower section 15 which has an upper substan- 1 10 tially cylindrical body 16 and a lower pipe section 17 which constitutes the outlet for the flush valve, the lower end of said pipe section 17 being disposed within the upper end of the delivery pipe 18 which extends to the fixture which is to be flushed, a packing box 19 being disposed about the shield so as to prevent leakage and a gasket 20 being arranged around the end of the delivery pipe and against thepart which isto be flushed.

for the same-purpose. Asmooth surfaced collar 21 is disposed about the lower end of the pipe section 17 and the parts around the same, as

clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so that the finish will correspond to the collar 8 which presents the finish for the inlet pipe. shield section 15 is open, as clearly shown inFig. 4, and at said upper end is formed a lateralsemicylindrical arm 22 which extends under and-about the nipple 3 of the flush valve and, at its outer extremity, is formed with an inturned flange 23'' fitting about the pipe member'4 of the controllingvalve casing. Just below the horizontal plane of the bottom of the arm 22.an internalannul'ar shelf 24'is provided on the shield member 15and the flush Valve rests on this flange, as clearlyshown in Fig. 2, a cushion 25 of rubber or other suitable material being disposed between the shelf and the lower end of the valve to resist possible leakage. A securing screw 26 is insertedthrough the arm 22, at any convenient point, and engaged in the nipple 3.so that, as the screw is turnedhome, the shelf will be drawn to the valve which will be firmly seated, it being understood that there is sufiicient clearance between the edge of the flange 23- and the bottom of-the pipe 4 to accommodate the securing movement. Thus a singlefastening screw willserve to secure the valve properly in position within the shield. The-flushing valve body 2 might tilt while the screw 26 is being turned home and, therefore, fail to seat properly upon its support. To avoid such action,.I provide lugs 41 on the body about one-third its height above the bottom. If three of these lugs be provided 120 apart, two of them will imme-- diately engage the inner surface of the section 15 and prevent tilting of the body. It-is also to be noted that the inverted cap on the lower end. of the body fits snugly in the section 15 and thus insures straight downward travelof the: valve bodyas it moves to its support. Initially, the

outlet member 1'7 had been dropped loosely-inthe: fixture where it rests (while the union coupling; atthe collar 14 is tested. After theuscrew 26 ls turned and the packing-box 19 set, the-:valve-is- .tested for leakage past the gasket or: cushion 25,

and the upper member of the shield is set in place after the test is satisfactory. It will be under stood, of course, that the collar 21 islooseupon:

the outlet 17 and may be easily slipped upward to afford access to the packing box and then moved:

downward to cover the box and adjacent parts.

The flush valve includes a dependinggstem 27 which is ordinarily operated by, the thrust of a handle, such as the handle 28 illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which tilts thestem' andsaid handle has been mounted in the side, of a lower extension or elongation of the valve body. Any pressure exerted inwardly; through" ness of the fitting naturally results. the primary valve of the flush valve .proper so.

the handle 28 will rock the stem 27 'and :unseat that the desired flow of water will be set up;

In the. present invention, theoperatinghandle 28 is independent of the flush valve body and is mounted within a box 29 formed on theside 1 of the. shield member15, being carried by acap The upper end of th'e or socket 30 which is threaded into the box, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. An offset 31 is formed on the inner surface of the section 16, immediately under the shelf 24, and suitable packing is placed within this offset, around the plunger 32, so that leakage around the plunger will be prevented. The plunger 32 extends from and may form an elongation of the handle 28 and bears-against the valve. stem 27; asshown and i as? will be understood.

The upper portion of the flush valve 2 is enclosed'by'an upper shield member 33 which is substantially cylindrical in form having an open lower end and an upper closed end of a semisph'erical formation. At the lower end of the member 33 is'a lateral arm 34 which is semicylindrical'in form and, at its outer extremity, is 1 provided with an inwardly projecting flange 35 which .flts around the pipe section 4, as shown in Fig; 2 and as will be understood. The lower endofthe shieldmemben 33 and the lower edges ofthe arm34-mate with and-rest on the upper edgesof the: shieldmember 15and the arm 22,-

aswill be understood, so that when the two" shield members are brought together about thevalve the surfaces of these two members-will be flush and cleaning, when necessary, may be v'ery'- easilyv accomplished. An opening 36 is formed in the upper endof the shield-member 33' anda" fastening. screw 3 '7- is seated in said opening which is countersunk to accommodate the head; of-the screw, the end of the screw' engaging in the upper: end of the flush-valve body so that the shield member 33 will be firmly'held in place with a single fastening.

Fromtheforegoing description, taken in con-'- nection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided an exceedingly: simple shield or casing fora flush valve of-the direct type which may-be very easily fitted about 1 5.;

the-valve and which will present a pleasing-apthefaulty part repaired or-removed without re= quiring. replacement of theipart inwhich no fault has developed. The lower member-of the shield" may be so shaped as to beeasily' fitted around the lower sections of most-makes-ofcommercially successful flush valves so that'the valves may be"? .1

furnished without their usual outlet tubes, nozzles; etc., and fim'shediofi squarely -at the bottom to restupon'the support provided the lower shield member. A single ordinary screw, applied in the most--convenient position, serves to secure each memberof theshieldaboutthe. valve so that the valve is broughtinto-proper position within the shield and security and tight The-outlet member 1'7 forms a stable-or fixed member of the entire -assembly :andis especially useful in positioningi the flush valve "handle in Mei dependently 'of th'e flush va'lve roper. It may 9 easily house'avacuum-breaker whichis frequently furnished in connection with flush valves toprevent reversal of flow or the siphoning of the contents of the fixture back into the water-supply system, the outlet being of ample capacity to receive the vacuum-breaker without retarding the flow.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a flush valve including a casing having laterally extending centering lugs, of a valve shield comprising mating members conforming to the general outline of the flush valve and fitting about the casing thereof with their meeting portions abutting and the inner surface of the shield bearing against said lugs, the exterior surfaces of the members at said meeting portions being disposed flush with each other, and means whereby the flush valve may be secured Within the shield.

2. A shield to be installed about a flush valve comprising mating members conforming to the general contour of the valve with their surfaces at the meeting portion flush with each other, the lower member of the shield having a pipe section constituting an outlet for the flush valve.

3. A shield to be fitted about a flush valve comprising upper and lower members conforming to the general contour of the valve and fitted about the same with their meeting ends abutting and their surfaces flush, means for securing the flush valve in said members, and a valve-operating member mounted upon and carried by the lower member of the shield.

4. A shield for installation about a flush valve comprising upper and lower members having their meeting ends open whereby they may be brought together to enclose the valve, means for securing the shield members to the valve, a shelf within one member upon which the flush valve may rest, and a valve-operating element mounted upon and carried by the lower member.

5. A shield to be installed about a flush valve comprising a lower member having a body provided with an open upper end and a semi-cylindrical arm extending laterally from said upper end and having a lower portion depending from said body of pipe formation whereby to constitute an outlet from the flush valve, an upper member having a substantially cylindrical body open at its lower end to fit over the upper portion of the flush valve and provided at its lower end with a semi-cylindrical lateral arm mating with the arm on the lower shield member to fit about an inlet for the flush valve, and means for securing said shield members to the flush valve.

6. A shield to be installed about a flush valve comprising a lower member having a substantially cylindrical upper body portion with an open upper end and a semi-cylindrical arm extending laterally from said upper end, an internal annular shelf in the body portion of said member below said arm, a pipe section depending from said body portion to constitute an outlet for the flush valve, a box formed on the outer side of the body portion of said member, an offset on the inner surface of said body portion below the shelf, a cap fitted in the outer end of said box, a valveoperating element carried by said cap and extending through the box and said offset, an upper shield member conforming to the upper portion of the flush valve and abutting the upper end of the lower shield member, and means for securing the shield members to the valve.

THOMAS R. BURKE. [L.S.] 

